Page 179 - 9th-language-english-2

“A very sick man,” said the old woman. The king leaned
back among his silken pillows and closed his eyes and wrinkled
his brow as if he were in pain.
“And is there no cure for me?” he asked.
Not to be republished
“Oh, yes, your Majesty. You need sleep but one night in the
shirt of a happy man and you will be cured instantly,” said the
simple old woman.
The king summoned the captain of his guard and his
©KTBS
bravest soldiers; the best courtiers in the land; and the swiftest
messengers and heralds.
“Start off at once,” he commanded them, “and bring me back
the shirt of a happy man. And mind you, don’t return without
it.” He added darkly.

The soldiers and courtiers, messengers and heralds travelled
far and wide from east to west, from north to south, across seas
and deserts, through cities and over mountains, from one end of
the kingdom to the other. But nowhere could they find a happy
man. They sent long reports to the king. And this is what they
said:
The people in the east might be happy if your Majesty didn’t
tax them so heavily.

And, the people in the west might be happy if they didn’t
have to work so long and so hard, so they might have a little
time to enjoy singing and dancing.
And, the people in the north might be happy if sometimes
they could see you and felt you were interested in them.

And, the people in the south might be happy if your Majesty
would notice their industry and faithfulness and would reward
them.

The king read the reports hastily and flung them away. But
as time went by and none of the messengers returned, and more
and more reports came to him of a people that might be happy
if their king so chose, he began to read more carefully.
One day a little stable boy approached a stranger who was
happily singing.

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